The 2026 Pro Swim Series - Austin: Day 3 Finals Live Recap
*Prelims: Day 1 (https://swimswam.com/2026-pro-swim-series-austin-day-1-prelims-live-recap/) | Day 2 (https://swimswam.com/2026-pro-swim-series-austin-day-2-prelims-live-recap/) | Day 3 (https://swimswam.com/2026-pro-swim-series-austin-day-3-prelims-live-recap/)
*Finals: Day 1 (https://swimswam.com/2026-pro-swim-series-austin-day-1-finals-live-recap/) | Day 2 (https://swimswam.com/2026-pro-swim-series-austin-day-2-finals-live-recap/)
The penultimate night of the 2026 Pro Swim Series in Austin is set to commence in less than an hour, with the fastest heat of the men’s 800 free kicking off the action. The session continues with finals of the women’s and men’s 50 breaststroke, followed by finals of the women’s and men’s 200 free. Semifinals of the women’s and men’s 50 butterfly come next, followed by finals of the women’s and men’s 400 IM, before the evening concludes with semifinals of the women’s and men’s 50 backstroke.
As a reminder, the new series format (https://swimswam.com/refresher-new-semifinals-schedule-for-2026-pro-swim-series/) features semifinals for all four 50s of stroke and the 200 IM at this first stop, with these events rotating over the next three stops. The top eight from the semis advance to tomorrow night’s finals, extending the meet to four days of competition with eight total sessions.
If you missed any of the action so far, reference the bullet points above to catch up.
Stay tuned for live updates below.
MEN’S 800M FREESTYLE – TIMED FINALS
- World Record: 7:32.12 – Zhang Lin (https://swimswam.com/tag/zhang-lin/), CHN (2009)
- World Junior Record: 7:43.37 – Lorenzo Galossi (https://swimswam.com/bio/lorenzo-galossi/), ITA (2022)
- American Record: 7:38.67 – Bobby Finke (https://swimswam.com/bio/bobby-finke/), USA (2023)
- U.S. Open Record: 7:40.34 – Bobby Finke (https://swimswam.com/bio/bobby-finke/), USA (2023)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 7:45.02 – Sam Short (https://swimswam.com/bio/sam-short/) (2025)
Top 8 Finishers:
1. Daniel Wiffen (CAL) – 7:50.37
2. Bobby Finke (https://swimswam.com/bio/bobby-finke/) (Team) – 7:51.50
3. Ryan Erisman (CAL) – 7:51.87
4. Lucas Henveaux (CAL) – 7:58.44
5. Ilia Sibirtsev (UZB) – 8:00.09
6. Damien Joly (FRA) – 8:05.87
7. Emile Vincent (FRA) – 8:07.63
8. Treyvn Krauss (TOPS) – 8:17.74
The men’s 800 free delivered an exciting showdown between the past two Olympic champions and hot-hand Ryan Erisman.
Cal freshman Erisman jumped out to an early lead, but Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen, his training partner, had taken over by the 50, leading Erisman by six-tenths, with Bobby Finke (https://swimswam.com/bio/bobby-finke/) just over four-tenths behind. At the 100, Wiffen maintained his lead in 55.36, with Uzbek distance specialist Ilia Sibirtsev 1.01 behind and Finke third at 1.13 back.
Wiffen steadily extended his advantage through the middle of the race, leading Sibirtsev by 1.12 at the 200 and 1.42 at the 300, while Finke stayed within striking distance. By the halfway mark, Finke had moved past Sibirtsev into second, but Wiffen continued to pull away, flipping at 3:54.16 with Finke 1.51 behind and Sibirtsev 1.80 back.
The race remained relatively stable over the next 300 meters before Wiffen made his decisive move. With 100 to go, he opened his biggest lead at 1.81 seconds over Finke, while Sibirtsev fell off the pace entirely. Meanwhile, Erisman staged a late charge on the final 50, nearly catching Finke for second.
Erisman, after winning the 400 free in a near personal-best 3:46.74 less than 24 hours ago, did the same here, finishing 0.13 behind the personal best of 7:51.74 he clocked to win bronze at this summer’s World University Games.
After the race, Wiffen reflected on his move to California: “It’s been a fun time. Obviously moving to California, we’ve got a great group there as well. We’re going hard in training at the moment, but it was nice to see that result on the board. You know, with Bobby in there, you always know what he’s capable of.”
Asked about his finishing move from 650 to 700, Wiffen said: “The plan was to go out hard at the start and see if I could hold on. I was able to hold on, but I was dying at the end. I still made it to the wall first, but it was a great race on both parts of it.”
WOMEN’S 50M BREASTSTROKE — FINAL
- World Record: 29.16 – Ruta Meilutyte (https://swimswam.com/bio/ruta-meilutyte/), Lithuania (2023)
- World Junior Record: 29.30 – Benedetta Pilato (https://swimswam.com/bio/benedetta-pilato/), Italy (2021)
- American Record: 29.40 – Lilly King (https://swimswam.com/bio/lilly-king/) (2017)
- U.S. Open Record: 29.62 – Lilly King (https://swimswam.com/bio/lilly-king/), United States (2018)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 29.62 – Lilly King (https://swimswam.com/bio/lilly-king/), United States (2018)
Top 8 Finishers:
1. Skyler Smith (NCAC) – 30.43
2. Anna Elendt (TXLA) – 30.76
3. Kate Canales (AAAA) – 32.02
4. Caprie Moreno (TIDE) – 33.07
5. Ella Peterson (DADS) – 33.39
6. Maya McCarney (NCAP) – 33.67
7. Grace Hunt (YSSC) – 33.81
8. Audrey Deras (MOR) – 34.15
UNC graduate Skyler Smith got out to an early lead in the women’s 50 breast, getting the best of the start and pullout. Despite a hard charge from Anna Elendt, the reigning world champion in the 100 breast, over the final 15 meters, Smith held on for the win by 33 one-hundredths in a time of 30.43. Elendt settled for runner-up in 30.76, just off the 30.41 she swam at the 2023 U.S. National Championships.
Elendt’s time is a new season best, though her lifetime best remains the 30.10 she produced during the 2022 Mare Nostrum circuit.
Quad A’s Kate Canales, a Florida commit, logged 32.02 for third place, six one-hundredths outside her lifetime best of 31.96.
Speaking after the win, Smith said: “I love the 50. We’ve been training a lot of it, working on our starts and our finishes. So I’m just happy it all came together.”
Asked about her development over the last year, Smith credited her training environment: “I have a great group of people I swim with every single day. They’re having a ball and pushing me right now. All my love goes out to B group, and I’m so thankful to be training with all of them. My coaches and support staff at Carolina—I wouldn’t be here without them.”
MEN’S 50M BREASTSTROKE — FINAL
- World Record: 25.95 – Adam Peaty (https://swimswam.com/bio/adam-peaty/), Great Britain (2017)
- World Junior Record: Nicolo Martinenghi (https://swimswam.com/bio/nicolo-martinenghi-2/), Italy (2017)
- American Record: 26.45 – Nic Fink (https://swimswam.com/bio/nic-fink/) (2022)
- U.S. Open Record: 26.52 – Michael Andrew (https://swimswam.com/bio/michael-andrew/), United States (2022)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 26.84 – Michael Andrew (https://swimswam.com/bio/michael-andrew/), United States (2023)
Top 8 Finishers:
1. Van Mathias (ISC) – 26.89
2. Denis Petrashov (CARD) – 27.12
3. Mitch Mason (TFA) – 27.33
4. Jack Kelly (NYAC) – 27.61
5. Finn Brooks (ISC) – 27.65
6. Brian Benzing (ISC) – 27.72
7. Andres Puente Bustamante (TFA) – 27.82
8. Jeremie Delbois (FRA) – 27.94
To no one’s surprise, Indiana’s Director of Operations Van Mathias, who ripped a world-leading 26.57 in prelims to rank as the #3 American of all time in the event (https://swimswam.com/van-mathias-clocks-26-57-pss-record-in-50-breast-fastest-performer-in-the-world-this-season/), dominated from the start.
Mathias popped up off the start even with the rest of the field but pulled away over the final 15 meters to secure the win with the only sub-27 outing of the evening. He stopped the clock at 26.89, with Cardinal Aquatics’ reigning world bronze medalist in the 100 breast Denis Petrashov (27.12) and Texas Ford Aquatics’ Mitch Mason (27.33) rounding out the top three.
Mason sliced two one-hundredths off his lifetime best from yesterday’s semifinals, while Petrashov has been as quick as 26.94 last May.
Speaking after the win, Mathias reflected on his new training environment: “It’s been fun. A lot of hard work. Trying some new stuff with breaststroke, but it’s been a blast. It’s been a new lease on life in swimming, and I’m happy to be here.”
Asked about the biggest change for him emotionally, Mathias said: “It’s an amazing group. A lot of good talent, a lot of guys who work really hard, especially in breaststroke. Being in that environment is a blessing, and I can’t take it for granted.”
On balancing his coaching duties with training, Mathias joked: “Well, we work a little bit, we swim a little bit, we work some more.”
WOMEN’S 200M FREESTYLE — FINAL
- World Record: 1:52.23 – Ariarne Titmus (https://swimswam.com/bio/ariarne-titmus/), Australia (2024)
- World Junior Record: 1:53.65 – Summer McIntosh (https://swimswam.com/bio/summer-mcintosh/), Canada (2023)
- American Record: 1:53.61 – Allison Schmitt (https://swimswam.com/bio/allison-schmitt/) (2012)
- U.S. Open Record: 1:54.13 – Summer McIntosh (https://swimswam.com/bio/summer-mcintosh/), Canada (2023)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 1:54.13 – Summer McIntosh (https://swimswam.com/bio/summer-mcintosh/), Canada (2023)
Top 8 Finishers:
Claire Weinstein used a strong final 50 to win the women’s 200 free in her second-fastest time ever at 1:56.62. After flipping fourth at the 150, she split 29.2 on the final 50 to secure the win.
Indiana’s Anna Peplowski chopped about half a second off her season best to finish second in 1:57.01, while Rylee Erisman clocked her #2 time ever at 1:57.19 for third.
Speaking after the race, Weinstein reflected on building momentum from her bronze medal in this event at World Championships in Singapore last summer: “I mean, it’s nice to get some long course racing in again early in the year. I’ve been trying not to be too far removed from long course as we get into the season. I’m really glad we ended up coming to this meet.”
Asked about adjusting to college life at Cal, Weinstein said: “It’s been amazing. Obviously, college is a huge adjustment. The biggest thing for me has been the academics, honestly, because I did online all four years of high school. But it’s definitely been a good challenge.”
On those early morning classes, she laughed: “We’ll see if they take attendance.”
MEN’S 200M FREESTYLE — FINAL
- World Record: 1:42.00 – Paul Biedermann (https://swimswam.com/bio/paul-biedermann/), Germany (2009)
- World Junior Record: 1:42.97 – David Popovici (https://swimswam.com/bio/david-popovici/), Romania (2022)
- American Record: 1:42.96 – Michael Phelps (https://swimswam.com/bio/michael-phelps/), USA (2008)
- U.S. Open Record: 1:43.73 – Luke Hobson (https://swimswam.com/bio/luke-hobson/), United States (2025)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 1:44.82 – Sun Yang (https://swimswam.com/bio/sun-yang/), China (2016)
Top 8 Finishers:
WOMEN’S 50M BUTTERFLY — SEMIFINALS
- World Record: 24.43 – Sarah Sjostrom (https://swimswam.com/bio/sarah-sjostrom/), Sweden (2014)
- World Junior Record: 25.46 – Rikako Ikee (https://swimswam.com/bio/rikako-ikee/), Japan (2017)
- American Record: 25.11 – Gretchen Walsh (https://swimswam.com/bio/gretchen-walsh/) (2023)
- U.S. Open Record: 25.11 – Gretchen Walsh (https://swimswam.com/bio/gretchen-walsh/), United States (2023)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 24.93 – Gretchen Walsh (https://swimswam.com/bio/gretchen-walsh/), United States (2025)
Top 8 Qualifiers For Tomorrow’s Final:
MEN’S 50M BUTTERFLY — SEMIFINALS
- World Record: 22.27 – Andrii Govorov (https://swimswam.com/bio/andriy-govorov/), Ukraine (2018)
- World Junior Record: 22.96 – Diogo Matos Ribeiro (
